National Comedy Center and CNN Partner to Present Live Tour in Promotion of “The History of Comedy”

Jan 11, 2017

CNN TO PREMIERE
"THE HISTORY OF COMEDY" ON THURSDAY, FEB. 9, AT 9PM ET/PT - New CNN Original
Series Features Interviews with Comedy Icons Norman Lear, Carol Burnett, Larry
David and Betty White among others

New York, N.Y. - Jan. 4, 2017 - "The History of
Comedy," executive produced by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner (Hazy Mills) with
Emmy Award winners Mark Herzog and Christopher G. Cowen (Herzog & Company),
will premiere Thursday, Feb. 9, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CNN, following a world
premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Using archival footage punctuated by
contemporary interviews with comedy legends, scholars and current stars, the
new eight-part CNN Original Series explores what makes people laugh and how
comedy has affected the social and political landscape throughout history.

"The History of Comedy" also features
interviews with Judd Apatow, Sarah Silverman, Senator Al Franken, Margaret Cho,
Samantha Bee, Jimmy Kimmel, Kathy Griffin, George Lopez, Keegan-Michael Key,
Conan O'Brien, Patton Oswalt, Dick Cavett, Ali Wong, W. Kamau Bell and more.
The premiere episode, "Going Blue," looks at groundbreaking comedians like
George Carlin, Dick Gregory and Lenny Bruce who dared to embrace the risqué
side of comedy. Additional episodes look at women in comedy, political
humor, parody and satire, comedy ripped from the headlines, the dark side of
comedy, comedy in race and culture, and comedy found in everyday life.

In support of the series launch, CNN Original
Series in partnership with the National Comedy Center, the first national
non-profit cultural institution dedicated to comedy, will present "Stand-Up
Live!" The showcase will feature some of today's freshest and funniest stand-up
comics and hit legendary comedy clubs in New York City, Boston, Chicago and Los
Angeles. Tickets can be purchased via the National Comedy Center's website,
www.comedycenter.org.

"The History of Comedy" will be available On
Demand the day after the linear premiere on cable VOD and on CNNgo via iPad,
Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire, and desktop at www.cnn.com/go.

About CNN Original Series

The CNN Original Series group develops
non-scripted programming for television via commissioned projects, acquisitions
and in-house production. Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent and
content development, oversees CNN Original Series and CNN Films for CNN
Worldwide. Lizzie Fox, vice president of current programming, supervises
production of all CNN Original Series.

SHOW TICKETS

NYC - January 25

Comedians Judy Gold, Emma Willmann, Tony Deyo,
Marina Franklin, and Michelle Buteau will perform at Carolines on Broadway on
January 25th as part of "Stand-Up Live!" presented by the National Comedy
Center and CNN's "History of Comedy"

Comedians Matteo Lane, Harrison Greenbaum,
Orlando Baxter, Kerri Louise, and Bethany Van Delft will perform at Nick's
Comedy Shop in Boston on January 28th as part of "Stand-Up Live!" presented by
the National Comedy Center and CNN's "History of Comedy"

Comedians Sammy Obeid, Emma Willmann, Tony
Deyo, Patti Vasquez, Keith Alberstadt and more will perform at Zanies Chicago
on February 2nd as part of "Stand-Up Live!" presented by the National Comedy
Center and CNN's "History of Comedy"

Comedians Francisco Ramos, Andy Hendrickson,
Dulcé Sloan and more will perform at the Comedy and Magic Club in LA on
February 4th as part of "Stand-Up Live!" presented by the National Comedy
Center and CNN's "History of Comedy"